Good Theater - About Us

Good Theater is the professional company founded by Brian P. Allen and Stephen Underwood. The 2007-2008 season marks the company's sixth full season of operations. The St. Lawrence Arts Center is the permanent home for Good Theater. Good Theater received its 501c3 non-profit status in May 2003.

The goals for Good Theater are simple: We intend to do good theater. We intend to present plays and musicals that showcase the best professional talent we can find locally. We intend to present quality productions that will fascinate, uplift and delight our audiences.

Board of Directors for Good Theater: Stephen Underwood, President; Rick Perry, Treasurer; Dyonisia Giatas; Secretary, Robert Fish, Shireen Shahawy, Diane York, Koren Sullivan & Tonia Nadzo Medd.

Volunteer Opportunities: People are needed to assist in a variety of ways: usher, box-office, advertising, poster distribution, office, etc. If you want to be a part of Good Theater, please contact us.

Brian P. Allen (Executive & Artistic Director) - is the co-founder of Good Theater. At Good Theater Brian has directed Driving Miss Daisy, Into the Woods, Shakespeare in Hollywood, Enchanted April, Drood, A Man of No Importance, Master Class, Baby, Side by Side, Shirley Valentine, Little Me, Over the River and Charley's Aunt. He has co-directed California Suite and Hay Fever. He has appeared in Good Theater's productions of Side by Side by Sondheim, California Suite and Barrymore. He is the co-producer/conceiver and director for the touring show Oh Those Voices starring three Broadway baritones. In addition to his theatrical work, Brian has created and directed a number of symphony concerts for several Broadway stars including Tony winner Debbie Gravitte and Tony nominees Mark Jacoby and Nancy Opel among others. Brian has worked extensively for the Portland Symphony Orchestra creating Pops concerts, directing Magic of Christmas as well as adapting and directing the staged concert version of A Little Night Music. Other favorite directing assignments include: Side Show, Lend Me a Tenor, The Secret Garden, Forum, Ruthless, The Normal Heart, Torch Song Trilogy and The Elephant Man. Currently he teaches a course on the history of musical theater for OLLI on the Portland Campus of USM. He began his theatrical career at Maine State Music where he served as the general manager/managing director for seven years. Periodically you can catch his performance on an episode of the MTV show MADE. Brian is celebrating 25 years of working in the theater. He is a proud member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers theatrical union.

Stephen Underwood (Production Manager/Co-Founder) - was one of the creators and performers of the musical Radical Radio, which premiered in Maine and toured nationally for four years including an off-Broadway run at Playhouse 91. He also co-wrote the musical Spellbound! for the Theater Project and served as musical director and principal composer. He has performed in a number of Good Theater productions including: Barrymore, Little Me, Same Time Next Year, Baby, A Man of No Importance, Charley's Aunt, The Dining Room, Edwin Drood Hay Fever and Shakespeare in Hollywood. He has also performed his solo show, The Big Picture in Portland, New York City, Santa Fe and Seattle. As a musician and songwriter, he has released a CD and scored a number of educational films and videos (Random House, Houghton Mifflin), including a national award winner for Planned Parenthood. When he has the spare time he performs with The Maine Hysterical Society, whose mission statement is "to preserve, promote and provoke laughter."

Friends of the St. Lawrence Church is a grass roots, non-profit corporation that was formed in 1996 to restore the historic St. Lawrence Church. Restoration of the left half of the building was completed in 2001. It now houses a beautiful, spacious, professionally equipped 100 seat theater. Restoration of the sanctuary portion of the building is now underway. The St. Lawrence Restoration Project and Arts and Community Center support four major goals:

1. Neighborhood Revitalization
2. Community Development
3. Historic Preservation
4. Arts and Cultural Activities

The venue is alive with entertainment almost every night of week: including live music, theater, dance, comedy, cabaret, performance art and more. For more information please visit the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center web site at www.stlawrencearts.org.